Needle selector mechanism for knitting machines



Dec. 18, 195i G. F. TEAGUE 2,579,161

NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed 001:. 2, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

En/m5 F 72/460,5-

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 'Dec. 18,1951 G. F. TEAGUE 6 NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES- Filed Oct. 2, 1959- 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 GEORGE F 7Z'AGUE,

INVENTOR.

BY l $6M ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 18, 1951 a. F. TEAGUE 2,579,161

NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2, 1950 I s SheetS-Shet 4 650% F Tam/5; I I INVENT OR.

W%// 5,41 aw ATTORNEYS 3 ow m M M 8 m Wu/ w @QWW \/\/A\\\\ W I B 8 m M 5 Wu u\\ AAAAKQ A AAA ,7 fi \mlifi m 7 u 11R \fl/num ma m m w v M An w. m M W Dec. 18, 1951 TEAGUE 2,579,161

NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 6 GEORGE E TEAGUE, A IN VENTOR.

BY v

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM-FOR KNITTING MACHINES g George F. Tea'g'u, Hickory, N. I (3., assigiioi to Whiting Hosiery Mills, Inc, 'Hickory, N; 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application October 2, 1950,, Serial No. 187,957

' Claims; (01'. se -14y This invention relates to circular independent needle knittin machines and more especially to an improved means for controlling the operation of the needles, including improvements in the selector pattern drum and the means. for imparting step-by-step rotation thereto.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide improved means for controlling operation of the needles of. an independent needle circular knitting machine .to render possible a wide variety of patternsin the manufacture of stocklugs and the like during continuous uninterrupted operation of the knitting machine.

' A- seleotor pattern drum, which is also termed atrial-z wheel, is the usual part of many types of circular knitting machines and is instrumental in effecting operation of selector fingers which, in turn, cause certain needles to be elevated for taking yarn to subsequently pass through. the stitch .cams. Usually, a selector pattern drum of this typevhas a step in rotation imparted theretern drum associated with most knitting machines. is of relatively. small diameter and moves a step with each revolutionof the needle cylinder "thus limiting the variations in patterning as transmitted .from the pattern drum to the needles.

it is, therefore, another object otthisinvention to provide a pair of selector pattern drums,

preferably. disposed on the same vertical axis, ad-

jacent the needle cylinder and having individual meansaas'sociate'd with eachof the pattern drums for imparting step-by-step rotation thereto and whereby the butts on one of the selector pattern drums may be arranged difierently from those of the other of the selector pattern drums, the.

butts on the selectors being arranged so thatcertain groups of needles will be afiected by .one of the pattern drums while other. groups of needles will be afiected by the other of the pattern drums so as to produce a variation in the ornamental appearanceof a stocking, particularly where wrap striping isemployed,.and wherein a plurality of desig'nsmay be knitted. in thesame courses of 'the knitted fabric. a This is particularly desirable in conjunction with a rib knitting machine in whicha pair of coaxial cylinders are employed and in which needles are transferred from one cylinder. to the-other in accordance with a desired pattern.

Someof the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- 7 Figure'l is a front elevation of a Links and Links knitting machine omitting the lower portion thereof, many of the parts being shown schematically and other parts being omitted for purposes of clarity and showing theinvention in association therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the'upper .portion of Figure 1 showing the im roved" s- Figure '3' is a fragmentary top plan view of .Figure'Z, omitting the rear portion of the machine and showing parts of the control means for controlling the impartin of step-by-step rotation tothe selector drums; V

Figuree is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the means for imparting step-by-s'tep rotation to the selector drums and taken substantially alongthe'line 3-4 in Figu-re2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the selector drum assembly taken substantially "along the line 5-45 in Figure' l and showing only fragmentary parts of the knitting machine inassociationtherewith; Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation looking substantially along the line 8 -6 in Figure 5 and [showing the manner in which the outer shell or the upper or first. selector drum section may relative to the inner shell thereof; I Figure 8 is a schematic developed view showing the arrangement of the butts on the upper and lower selector "drums for producing a sock of the type shown in Figure 10';

Figure 9 is a "schematic developed view'showing the arrangement of one-half of the butts on the selectors which cooperate with the butts on the selector drum sections, through the/medium of the conventional "selector levers orfingers for producing a sock of thetype shown in Figure 10-; Figure 10 isan enlargedelevation showing one side of a stocking with a combination of two of many types of ornamentalpatterns which may she-knitted into the leg? and instep. of a stocking in association with a knitting machine, by'means of a pair of superposed-coaxial independently I operable selector, pattern drum; sections.-

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral lllbroadly designates the frame of a circular knitting machine, the particular type of knitting machine shown in the drawings being of a type such as is manufactured by Scott and Williams and is commonly known as a Komet, Links and Links double indexing circular knitting machine. This particular type of machine has coaxial superposed needle cylinders with selector mechanism for transferring selected needles from one cylinder to the other, many of;

the conventional parts of the machine being identical to a machine described in U. S. Letters Patent to P. L. Thurston, No. 2,316,823 .of April J 1. The frame in comprises legs [I which support a conventional oil tray l2 having the lower edges of lower bed plate support members l3 and l4 apparatus in association with a Links and Links secured thereto. The upper ends of the plate" support members l3 and i4 have a lower bed plate l5 secured thereon on which the lower ends of intermediate bed plate support pillars 20 are mounted. The upper ends of the pillars 20 have a conventional intermediate bed plate 2| mounted thereon. The intermediate bed plate 2| has the lower ends of vertically disposedupper bed plate supporting pillars 23 mounted thereon, on the upper ends of which is suitably secured a conventional upper bed plate or cap plate 24. The knitting machine also includes a conventional lower needle cylinder 25 which is provided with the usual vertically movable sliders, not shown, located in the grooves thereof.

An upper needle cylinder is disposed incoaxial alinement with the lower needle cylinder 25 'and the needle cylinders 25 and 30 are provided with conventional sliders, not shown, which cooperate in transferring conventional double ended needles, not shown, between the upper and lower needle cylinders 30 and 25, respectively, in

a manner well known to those familiar with the art. A further illustration and description of these needle cylinders and associated parts are deemed unnecessary.

The upper needle cylinder is provided with an extension 32 which is shown schematically in Figure 1 and a portion of which is shown in Figure 9 in developed form so as to expose the arrangement of the butts of conventional vertically movable selectors 33 located in grooves which form continuations of the grooves in the upper needle cylinder 30. These selectors 33 are conventional in all respects. However, the butts thereon are divided into upper and lower groups for purposes of description, the butts forming the upper group 1being indicated at 34 and the butts included in the lower group being indicated at 35. Also, for

vpurposes of description, a division line 36 is provided to serve as a guide to the reader in differentiating the butts in the upper and lower groups.

It is evident that the line 36 would not be necessary on the actual extension of the upper needle cylinder 30. There are many different types of cam arrangements which may be provided for effecting movement of the conventional sliders, not shown,

type of knitting machine. It will be evident, as the description proceeds, that the particular features of this invention need not necessarily be limited to the Links and Links machine, the particular stocking shown and the various mechanism associated with the present invention being shown by way of illustration only.

In knitting the stocking shown in Figure 10, the top 45 may be knitted of the 1:1 rib and also including the laying in of the usual elastic yarn. The leg of the stocking is then knitted in which the opposite sides of the stocking may'appear "sive, are knitted of outwardly facing stitches, it

being well known, to those familiar with the art, that the inwardly facing stitches of the areas 46 to 50, inclusive, are knitted with the corresponding needles in the upper cylinder 30 and the outwardly facing stitches employed in forming the areas 53 to 56, inclusive, are formed while the corresponding needles are disposed in the lower cylinder 25.

It will be noted that the areas 41 and 49 of the "inwardly facing stitches have patterns knitted therein which are indicated at 51 and 58 while the area 48, of inwardly facing stitches, has a different patterned area 5| knitted therein. These patterned areas 51, 58 and BI may be knitted of the same yarn as the remaining portions of the stocking in the event of a single yarn being employed in knitting the stocking or, as shown in said patent, No. 2,316,823, these areas 51, 58 and {5| may be knitted of only one of two yarns em- '-ployed in knitting the remaining portions of the stocking and, in which event, the other of the 'yarns would be floated back of the areas 51, 58 '(and 6!.

The arrangement of the yarns, that is, using a single yarn or using more than one yarn is inconsequential with respect to the present invention, the present invention being particularly concerned with knitting these patterned areas 51, 58 and El with outwardly facing stitches on a background of inwardly facing stitches to produce an embossed effect on the areas 41, 49 and 48- respectively.

Heretofore it has not been possible to produce a patterned area, such as the area 6|, with as many extremely different characteristics therein relative to the characteristics of the patterned areas 5! and 58 as exemplified by the stocking shown in Figure 10. In other words, all of the areas 41, 48 and 49 would normally have identical or similar patterned areas therein, or one or more of the areas 48 to 50, inclusive, would not have any embossed design incorporated therein. Therefore, the main feature of the present invention is to provide means for controllingthe needles knitting in particular wales, for'trans- --ferring= the =needles "from onescylinde'r to :another independently of adjacent groups of needles;- :or groups of zreedles'spacedifrom the groups knitting in said particular-group...of wales, so as toproduce extremely-varied patterned areas in sp'aced groups of wales in a knitted tubular. fabric and whereinthe selected .needlesknitting said patterned iarea's may knit stitches facing in the opposite direction from the areas on whichthey are superimposed;

- It will be noted that the 1 outwardly facing stitched-areas '55 and 56 extend'through the instep portion 42 01? the stocking shown in Figure 6 as does the inwardly facing'stitched area 49 and a part of the inwardly facing stitched area 48,the "outwardly facing patterned portion iii of the area-48 also being extended into theinstep of the stocking to provide amargin between the instep 4-2 and the sole 53 of the stocking-shown in Figure Itis evident that the needles which had been knitting-in the portion ofthe' area 43 disposedabove the heel pocket 44,: as well as those needles knittingiin the areas 45 and 4?, are transferred 'to'thevlower cylinder before going into the knitting of the heel pocket 44 and, of course, these last-named needles also remain in the lower cylinder during the knitting of the sole 43'so the -heel pocket 44, the sole 43 and the toe pocket 45 are knitted'with outwardly facing stitches Now, in order to produce the variations in patterning; such as are-exemplified by the areas 57 and 6!, in the same group'of courses, an improved selector pattern drum is provided which includes an upper and a lower section which are independently controlled as to step-by-step rotation so the upper section of said selector pattern drum may controlthe selectors 33 having one o'r more of the butts 34in the upper group thereonsand the lower section of the selector pattern drum may control those selectors 33 (Figure 9) having one or more of the butts 35 of the lower section thereon. It: is evident that, although the se lector- 33 shown in Figure 9 has a plurality of butts 34 and '35 thereomit is unlikely that there would-beany of the butts 35 on the same selectors 33 on which any of the butts 34'are disposed other than the lowermost butts in the group 35, these being instrumental in controlling the introduction of the elastic yarn to the top it of the stocking as shown in Figure 10 in the usual manner. ,J'Ihe improvedxselector pattern drum vided-with special links l3zwhich are instrumental in controlling step-by-step movement of one of the sections of the pattern drum to be presently described.

Referring to Figure 5, the improved selector pattern drum is shown in detail and is broadly designated'at 15. 1 This selector pattern drum 15 includes an upper or first pattern drum section broadly designated at T6 and a lower or second pattern drum section broadly designated at ll therewith out of the paths of the butts-34 :For purposes'of'adjustability the upper and low.-

erpatternvdrum sections and] 1;incl-ude'--re:- spective outer shells '80 and 8! which'are secured for rotary adjustment to respective inner :shells 82 and 83, these shells 8 0 to 83, inclusive, being of tubular. construction;

The shells Stand-82 of theupper selector pat,-

sections 116 .andlll are provided with a plurality of respective bores 85'- and:-86:in some of'whi'ch a pluralityof pattern vpins or selector drum butts 81 and 88; respectively; may. be inserted in accordance with a desired pattern. '1',

It will be observed, in Figure 8.,wthat only the pins are illustrated in the. upper and=the lower sectionslltfiandarl 'i "of the selector patternd-rum 15, the arrangementof these pattern pinstland 88 being illustrated specifically for producing a stocking pattern such as that shown inFigure 19. The upper patternpins 8l coincide with the upper group of selectorbutts 34.'(Figure 7-) and the lower pattern pins 88 on. the selector pattern drum 15' coincidewith the lowergroup of selector buttsr35ion the selectors 33'. .The pattern pins Bl and 885on the improved selector pattern drum 15' actuate the selectors 33 by means of conventional selector leversor'fingers 99 only. one of which is shown in Figure 4; Y

There is usually provided one of these selector levers til at the level corresponding :to the level of each of theselectorbutts 34 and 35 on the selectors; 33 and each of. the selector lever-s99 is "provided with the usual cam incline 9l adapted-to engage selector butts disposedat a corresponding level to move the associated selector downwardly." The selector levers 90 are pivoted on a common vertical shaft 92 (Figure 4) and the ends of the selector levers 90: remote from the cam incline Bl are bifurcated to; provide 'a heel portion '93 an'd'a toe portion 94, these-toe .por-

"tions being urged by conventional spring means,

not shownvin the ipresentidrawings but clearly shown linisaid :patent',:.-No. i2,316,,823, into engagement' with the-peripheries: of the upperand lower sections 1'6 and: ll;- respectively; of the selectorpattern drumfi. .1 y

These toecportions' 94 are disposed, at levels corresp'ondingto the' 'levelsxof thercorresponding selector or pattern pinsBl and 88 of the respective upper and lower sections 76 and 11 of the selector pattern. drum '15.. It is evident that, -=upon any of the selector: pins 81 andSfl-engaging the corresponding toe-portions Q4- of the selector levers 199,: these selector levers 99 :wi1l'belpivoted about the :shaft 92 in' 'a counter-clockwisedirectiontto move .the scam incline 9Iva-ssociated and 35 on theselectors33. 'It is 'well known,-;:to"those:familiarwvith the art, 'thatduring the knitting of theheel andctoe pockets 44 and 45, respectively, it is necessary that the' cam inclines 9| of theselector'levers 90 be disposed in an inoperative position so'as to permit th'e'butts of the selectors 33 to pass thereby during reciprocatory movement of the needle cylinders 25- and 39 and the extension 320i. the

upper cylinder 30. Thus,. there is provideda vertically disposed selector lever blocking bar 95 which is disposed in the horizontal plane of the -heel portions 93 of the selector levers 90 and is controlled by conventional means, to be present- 1y described, for engaging theseheel portions 93 to swingthe selector levers 90 to inoperative position. This bar 95 is fixed on a vertically disposed shaft 36 on the upper end of which an arm 31 is fixedly mounted. This arm 91 has one end of a connecting rod I60 universally connected thereto which extends outwardly and is universally connected to one end of. an arm IDI oscillatably mounted on a post I02 depending from the upper bed plate 24.

This arm IUI also has another arm I04 integral therewith which is penetrated b an adjustment screw I65 which engages the outer. portion of a lower pawl interrupting lever I66 which is disposed immediately below a second or upper pawl interrupting lever I61, these levers I06 and ID! being voscillatably mounted intermediate their ends on the post I02.

An abutment in the form of an adjustment screw III) also engages the outer portion of the lower pawl interrupting lever I66 and threadably penetrates the outer' end of a conventional indexing lever III which is disposed below the lever I66 and also oscillatably mounted on the post I02. Thefouter portion of this indexing lever III is also engaged by the arm I04 and the inner end of theindexing lever III normally rides against the periphery of an indexing disk II2 (Figures 4' and having a notch N therein into which the reading or working end of the indexing lever I I I is adapted to be moved in "setting up the pat-, terning in the pattern drum I5 for knitting a subsequent article.

Now, the arm IOI has one end of a link II4 universally connected thereto which extends outwardly and downwardly in Figure 4 and is pivotally connected, as at II5, on a horizontal axis, to a cuff member II.6 fixed adjacent the upper end of avertically disposed thrust rod III. This rod II! and the selector lever blocking bar 95 and intervening connections are conventional and function in a conventional manner. The thrust rod I I! is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the intermediate bed plate 2I (Figure 1) and extends downwardly and is adapted to engage the periphery of the quality drum I0 and, at times, is engaged by a' cam I fixed on the quality drum Hi. It is evident that there would be several thrust rods actuated by the cams on the quality drums I0. However, these thrust rods and the remaining cams on the quality drum ID are not pertinent to the present invention and an illus tration and description thereof are deemed unnecessary. I 7

Now, referring again to Figures 5, 6 and 7, it: will be observed that the upper selector pattern.

drum section I6 is keyed, as at I2I, to a tubular hub member I22 and the inner shell 83 of the lower selector pattern drum TI is keyed, as at I23,

to a lower tubular hub member I24. The upper tubular hub member I22 may be supported by and have sliding rotational engagement with the lower tubular hub member I24. The upper and lower sections I6 and I! of the selector pat- ,tern drum 15 are driven by means of respective ratchet wheels I and I26, the upper tubular hub member I22 having a tubular extension I inv tegral therewith and projecting upwardly therefrom which is provided with a flange I3I to the upper surface of which the ratchet wheel I25 is suitably secured as by a screw I32.

- The upper ratchet wheel I26 is suitably sebed plate 2 I.

8 cured, as byra screw I33, to the upper surface of the indexing disk I I2, this disk I I2 being an integral .part of a vertically disposed inner tubular member I34. The inner tubular member I34 extends downwardly and has the tubular hub member I22 rotatably mounted thereon and the lower end thereof has the lower hub member, I24 keyed thereto, as at I35, and is also secured thereto by a set screw I36. The flange I3I on the extension I30 of the upper hub member I22 has a reduced annular portion I3! extending upwardly therefrom on which the ratchet wheel I25 is mounted. The inner tubular member I34 has stepped reduced portions I and MI at the upper end thereof, the ratchet wheel I26 being mounted on the reduced portion I40. It will be noted that sliding rotational movement between the upper surface of the ratchet wheel I25 and the lower surface of the indexing disk I I2 is possible.

In order that the pattern pins 81 and 88, on the respective pattern drum sections I6 and TI,

7 may register accurately with the toe portions of the corresponding selector levers 90, means are provided for adjusting the outer shells 86 and 8| of the upper and the lower sections 'I6 and TI, respectively, relative to the inner shells 82 and 83. Referring to Figure 6, it will be observed that the outer shell 80 has a circumferentially extending slot I43 therein which is slidably penetratedby a screw I44, this screw I44 being threadably embedded in the inner shell 82. The slot I43 permits relative adjustment between the outer and inner shells 80 and 82. resnectivelv.

It will be observed, in Figure 7, that the proximate lower edges of the outer and innershells 8i and 83 of the lower section TI are provided with a plurality of semi-circular threaded cavities I45 and I46, respectively, and, when adjacent cavities I45 and I 43 are .alined, they are adapted to receive a locking screw 4! for securing the outer shell in adjusted position relative to the inner shell 83. In this instance, the others of the corresponding cavities I45 and I46 will be disposed in staggered relation to each otherand, in the event that it is desired to adjust the outer shell 8| about the inner shell 83, the screw I41 may be removed from the mating cavities I45 and I46 and may be inserted in another of the sets of mating cavities I45 and I46,

after adjusting the shell I3I to the desired position about the shell 83.

The lower selector pattern drum section I1. is supported for rotational sliding movement on a substantially circular bearing plate Hill-which rests upon the upper surface of the conventional cam plate I5I, this cam plate I5I being secured in a conventional manner, not shown, to the upper surface of theintermediate bed plate 2i. The inner tubular member I34 is mounted for rotation on a vertically disposed pattern drum support shaft I52 which has reduced eccentric end portions I53 and I54 integral therewith. The lower reduced portion I54 slidably penetrates the cam plate I5I and the intermediate The upper reduced portion I530! the shaft I52 slidably penetrates the upper bed plate 24 and a block I56.

This block I56 is suitably secured, as byscrews I51 (Figures 1, 2 and 3), to the upper surface of the upper bed plate 24 and has a set screw I60 threadably penetrating one of the walls thereof and which .bears against the reduced portion I53 of the shaft I52 for holding the shaft in adjusted position. It is thus seen. that the position of the selector pattern drum 15, in-

7 strokes against the action of a spring I65a.

the shaft I52 about the axis of the reduced endportions I53 and I54.

Referring to Figures 1,-2, 3, 4 made, it will be observed that the driving mechanism for the selector drum sections 16 and 11 comprises lower and upper or first and second ratchet pawls I62 and I63 which are pivotally mounted in vertically spaced relation to each other on a suitable stud I64 which is fixedly secured on the outer end of a pawl carrying arm I65. The pawl carrying arm I65 is freely rotatable n the reduced portion I 45 of the inner tubular member I34 and in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the secondratchet wheel I26 (Figure The pawl carrying arm I65 has an extension I65 integral therewith which extends inwardly and is adapted to be engaged bya projection or cam portion 32a on the extension 32 of the needle cylinder 36 'so that one or the other, or both, of the selector" pattern drum sections 16 and 11 are moved one step forward upon each revolution of the needle cylinder according to the desired pattern arrangement.

One of the selector pattern drum sections which, in this instance, is the lower pattern drum section 11 in Figure 5, is controlledin a substantially conventional manner similar to that shown in said Patent No. 2,316,823.

In order to utilize the peripheral area of the lower pattern drum section to its fullest extent, it is necessary that the extension I 66' of the pawl carrying arm I65 be held out of engagement with the cam portion 32:: of the needle cylinder extension 32 during the knitting of the heel pocket. Therefore, means are provided which operate. simultaneously with movement of the selector lever blockin bar into engagement with the heels of the selector levers 90, for moving the working end of the second pawl interrupting or blocking lever I01 in a clockwise direction in Figure 4 to engage a down-turned portion I15 of a plate I'II, suitably secured to the upper surface of the pawl carrying arm I65, to thus hold both the pawls I62 and I63 at the end of their One end of this spring I65a is connected to the plate Ill and the other end thereof iscconnected' to a. projection. I651) depending. from the lower surface of'the top bed plate 26. This will'hold the extension I66 of the arm I65 out away from the cylinder extension 32 and prevent its actuation. by therprojection 32a. v

The upper blocking lever I61. is .moved into operative position for holding the pawl carrying arm, I65 at theforward end ofits stroke during the knitting of, the heel pocketby means of a Bowden wire I16 pivotally connected to the outer end-ofthe upper blocking lever I61 as at I11. A tension spring I 80 is alsooonnected at one end thereof to the outer end portion of the blocking lever I61, its other end being suitably connected to the lower surface ofthe up er bed plate 24 for returning the lever I01 to inopera tive position. The housing of the Bowdenwire I16 fixedly penetrates a post, I15 and is then curved downwardly, as, shown in Figures land 2,, the lower end of the Bowden wire being suitably connected. to the inner-end of a pivoted lever I62, oscillatablym'ounted intermediate its e'nds on a. horizontally. disposed shaft I 83 mountedin the frame I4.

The free end of the lever I82 is normally urged into engagement with the. periphery of the clutch drum 61 bythe tension. spring I (Figure .4) and is adapted to be-engaged by a cam member I84 on the clutch. drum 61 for moving: the blocking lever I01 ina clockwise direction in Figure 4 for preventingbscillation of the pawl carrying arm I65 and to hold the projection Is66thereon out of engagement with the projection 32a'.on the cylinderextension'32. It is evident that, upon the cam-member I84 moving out of engagement with-the reading end of-the control lever I82 (Figure-1) the tensionspring I80 (Figure 4) again moves the blocking lever-l01 in a counter-clockwise direction to assume substantially.the.posi tion shownin Figure 4.

The driving mechanism for the selector pattern drum sections 16 and 11- is also-interrupted during the knitting of the toe pocket upon the lower pattern drum section- I1 to be rotated, in a step-by-step manner, to a predetermined positime so as to properly effect the transfer of the needles between the cylinders 25 and '30 upon going into the knitting of the leg of :a subsequent stocking and following the knitting of 'the top thereof.

Following the knitting ofthe instep and sole portions of a stocking, the thrust rod Illagain moves upwardly, or toward the observer in Figure 4, to cause the selector lever blocking bar to again engage the heels 93 of allof: the selector levers 95] to move the inclined cam portions 91 thereof away from the needle "cylinder to inoperative position; It is evident that this will cause the arms IM and I04 to move in'a clockwise direction, in Figure 4, to assume the position shown and, in which event, the outer portion ofthefirst pawlblocking lever- I 06 may also swing in a clockwise direction in Figure 4.

, Now, since the abutment I05 is in engagement with the lever I06; thiswill cause the free end of the indexing lever'I I I 'to ride against the periphery of the indexing disk H2. However, inasmuch as thefreeend of the indexing lever III is in; engagement with the periphery of the indexing'disk "I I2, it will still prevent the working end' of the lever :I06 from engaging the downturn portion I10 of'the plate "I on'the pawl carrying arm I65." Thus, although the 'cam inclines 9I- on the selector levers 90 are held out of engagement with the cylinder extension 32 during the reciprocatory knitting of the toe pocket, the pawl-I 63 may continue toimpart step-by step movement to the ratchet'wheel I26 and the correspondin lower patternv drum I11. The indexing disk H2 is provided with a notch N into which the indexing lever III will drop upon registering therewith, and into which it is urged by a tension spring I13 on the free, end of of the pawl blocking lever I01, and, of course, the working end of the pawl blocking lever I06 will then be moved into engagement with the downturnedportion I10 of the plate I'II onuthe pawl carrying arm as shown in Figure 4. The notch N is so located that when it .is engaged by the lever I I I, the lower pattern drumsection 11 .isin proper position for starting each of successive articles produced by the machine.

The tensionspring I13 isconnected; at one endthereof to the outer, end -of the pawl blocking lever I06, its other end being connected to a projection; I14 extending fromthe post I15. Upon knitting a succeed-ingistocking and during theknitting of the top of saidsucceedi-ng stocking, it is evident that, upon the vertically dis posed blocking bar 95 being moved to inoperative position, responsive to downward movement of the thrust rod N1, the arms IiiI and I04 move in a counter-clockwise direction to thus move the'pawl blocking lever let out of engagement with the downwardly projecting portion IIll of the plate III on the ratchet pawl carrying arm I65, whereupon the extension I66 of the pawl carrying arm I65 may again be moved inwardly by the spring I651; to be actuated by the projection 32a on the cylinder extension 32 for again imparting step-by-step rotation to the corre-: sponding lower pattern drum section 11 through the medium of the pawl I63 and the ratchet wheel I26.

Due to the shape of the notch N and the mating portion oftheindexing lever II I, the indexing lever III will ride out of engagement with the notch N upon the pawl I63 engaging the ratchet wheel I26 to impart step-by-step rotation thereto, the indexing lever II I being moved out of the notch N due to the fact that the lever I96 will have been moved in a counter-clockwise direction by the arm IM as the arms IIII and I94 are moved in the same direction upon downward movement of the thrust rod I H.

An important feature of the present invention is a pattern controlled means for imparting stepby-step rotation to the uppe selector pattern drum section I6 at varying intervals during which the lower pattern drum section I! moves a step in unison with each step in movement of the upper selector pattern drum section I6 and between which the lower selector pattern drum section 11 may continue step-by-step movement independently of the upper selector pattern drum section I6.

In order to control step-by-step movement of the upper selector pattern drum section I6 independently of the lower selector pattern drum section 11, the lower pawl I 62 is controlled as to its movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the ratchet wheel I25 by means of the projections-I3 on special links of the pattern chain I2 engaging the upper end of a pawl control lever I85, to the lower end of which one end of a Bowden wire N36 is connected, as at I81. The projections I3 will swing the lever I85 in a counterclockwise direction in-Figure 1 causing the Bowden wire I66 which extends upwardly in Figures 1 and 2 and is connected to the lower end of an arm I90, to move from left to right in Figure 2. This arm I90 extends upwardly and is then bent horizontally and is fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft I9I.

The shaft I9I is oscillatably mounted in a vertically extending tubular bearing member I 92,

which has a rearwardly extending portion I93 integral therewith (Figure. 3) which is suitably secured, as-by screws I94, to the upper surface of the upper bed plate 24. One end of a horizontally disposed rod I96 is, adjustably secured in the enlarged lower end of the vertically disposed shaft I9I and this rod I98 loosely penetrates a cuff member I95 which depends from and is oscillatably mounted in the free end of the pawl I62.

It is thus seen that upon movement of the Bowden wire from left to right in Figure 2, the shaft I9! will move in a clockwise direction in Figure 4 to cause the rod I99 to impart like movementto the pawl I52 to thus move the same into engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel I25, Now, in order to return the pawl I62 to inoperative position, upon the projections I3 on the patternchain I2 (Figure 1) moving out of engagement with the lever I85, there is provided a leaf spring member I96 which is fixed at its rear end, in Figure 3, on a projection I91 extending from one side of the rearwardly extending portion I93 on the bearing I92. This leaf spring member I96 extends forwardly and is bent at its front end in such a manner as to engage the inner surface of the vertically extending arm I96 to thus tend to move the arm I90 and the corresponding vertically disposed shaft I9I in a counter-clockwise direction in Figures 3 and 4. It is evident that this would cause the pawl I62 to be moved outwardly to assume the position shown in Figure 4.

Inasmuch as the upper selector pattern drum section It is slidably supported by the lower selector pattern drum section ll, a braking means is provided for resisting movement of the upper pattern drum section 76. This braking means comprises a brake bank 266 (Figures 2 and 5 which encircles the tubular portion I30 of the upper hub member I22 and which has adhesively secured to the inner face thereof, a suitable friction material 21, such as leather or the like, which ,frictionally engages said tubular portion I36 of the hub member I22. The brake band 299 has an outwardly extending portion 262 integral therewith which is secured, as by screws 263, tov the lower end of an arm 204. a

This arm 264 extends upwardly and is bent spirally and is suitably secured, as by screws 295, to the outer end of a cufi member 296. The cuff member 266 extends inwardly and is slidably penetrated-by the reduced upper portion I lI of the inner tubular member I34 (Figure 5). The cufi member 266 is bifurcated, as at 201 (Figure 3), so as to straddle a locking pin 268 depending from the lower surface of the upper bed plate 24 to prevent rotation of the cuff member 296 about the reduced upper portion I H of the tubular member I44. It is evident that this will prevent rotation of the brake bank 269 about the tubular portion I39 of the tubular hub member I22 and suitable means, in the form of a screw 2, is provided for clampingly securing the opposed portions of the brake bank 266 together so as to cause the same to frictionally engage the tubular portion I30 of the hub member I22 to thus resist rotation thereof.

It is unnecessary, in this particular instance,

' to provide means for resisting rotation of the lower selector pattern drum section 'I'I as rotation is imparted to the upper selector pattern drum section I6 because, whenever a step is imparted to the upper pattern drum section I6, a step in rotation is also imparted to the lower pattern drum section II. However, there may be many times when a step in rotation is imparted to the lower selector pattern drum, section 11 when it is not imparted to the selector pattern drum section 16.

It is thus seen that I have provided a means for controlling the selected transfer of needles from one cylinder to the other through .the medium of selectors having a plurality of groups of selector butts thereon and the selector butts of one group being engageable by selector levers responsive to one pattern drum section, the selector butts of another section or group being responsive to selector levers controlled by the other pattern drum section which operates independently of the first-named pattern drum section to thus produce a Links and Links fabric wherein it is possible to'produce a stocking liavaprons:

, 13- mg spaced sections 'eachpomprisingi a plurality ofwales in whichv the. stitche's-formed'tace inwardly and wherein certain oi these sections may have ornamental designsiormewtherein with outs:

wardly: facing stitches and the iornamental appearanceofthe designs in anyone or more. of:

the sections may be'varied: in any desired=manne1t relative to othersections althoughthe various designs may be?disposedin'the-sameicourse. The" ornamental: appearancefi of the' stocking shown in Figure 10, exemplifiesoneof many typ'es of design combinations which maybe formed .of outwardly facing stitches Jon areas? formed "-ofi-rinwardly facing stitches.v

In the drawings and specification? there 1 has been set forth apreferredembodiment:of the.

invention and although specific" terms are em= played, they are used ma generic and-descriptive: sense only and not-for purposes of limitati'on,

the scope Fof1the invention being clefinedsin -the claims.

1 claim:

1. 'Ina circular'knitting machine having verti cal-ly movable needles and selectors associated with the vertically movable needles and being provided with-selector butts thereon, said knitting machine also having 53iplurality of==-se1ector levers adapted to be moved intofengagemnt with tern drum section beingv friotionally supported. by

theiloweri pattern drum section, anv innentubular' memberon' which "thelow'er pattern drum sec- 7 tion is fixedly mounted, said upper pattern drum section being rotatable on said inner tubular member, a vertically disposed shaft on which the inner tubular member is rotatably mounted,,a

and maintaining operation of the pawl carrying means with respect to the other of the ratchet wheels so as to impart step-by-step rotation to one of the selector pattern drum sections independently of the other pattern drum section.

2. In a circular knitting machine having vertically movable needles and selectors associated with the vertically movable needles and being provided with selector butts thereon, said knitting machine also having a plurality of selector levers adapted to be moved into engagementwith the butts on certain of the selectors, an improved pattern drum for moving the selector levers into and out of operative position in predetermined order comprising an upper pattern drum section and a lower pattern drum section disposed in coaxial relation to each other,

the upper pattern drum section being frictionally supported by the lower pattern drum section, an inner tubular member on which the lower pattern drum section is fixedly mounted, said upper pattern drum section being rotatable on said inner tubular member, a vertically disposedf shaft on which the inner tubular member -.is rotatably mounted, a first ratchet wheel fixed 14- on "the inner :tubular 'im'emhe'r Zan'd ":a' second; ratchet wheel fixed oni'therupper pattern drum section, pawl carrying meanswadjac'ent theratchet wh'eelszmea'ns 'for.idriving the pawl: cartying 1 means i in an oscillatory imanner fior imparting step-by 'step rotation to ztheit upper and lowersecti'ons'o'f the pattern drum; pattern'controlled. means for rendering "inoperable with re spect' to-on'e' of the ratchet wheels 'and mainitaining' operation of the pawl carrying .imeans with respect to "the other of the 'ratchet: wheels so l as to impart I step-'by-step rotation: to oneof "the selectorpattern drum sections-- independently'ofthe other. i It; In andndependent needle circu-lar knit ting machine having selectors for operating up on the needles and also having =selector levers for operating uponthe selectors, said 'knilazing' 'macliihefalso' having an upper and 'an inter-"- I mediate jbed plate'spacedsubstantially apart from each other,*-im'1'::rovedpattern controlled' means? for moving 'the selector-levers i'nto and out of" operative position in predetermined order comprising a vertically disposed shaftha'v ing-ecc'ei'itrically' located reduced end portions rrhovably "secured in" the upper and lower bed Plat "an inner 1 tubular' me'mber *rotatably mounted on said shaft between the' upper and lower ena bfthe inner tubulan'member' and having aniin'ner tubular" shell 'fixed' 'thereonyan outer'tubular shell forming a lower pattern drum seme adjustably secured on the inner tubular shell and 'havinga'plurali'ty or butts thereon for engaging certain of the selector levers accordmg w *desirdpatternwan ap arent-mar hub member =i'ota-tably mounted on" the inner tubular member and in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the lower tubular member, an inner tubular shell fixed on the upper tubular member, an outer tubular shell forming an upper pattern drum section adjustably secured on the inner tubular shell of the upper hub member and also having a plurality of butts thereon for engaging certain selector levers according'to a desired pattern, and independently operable means for imparting rotation to each of the hub members and their corresponding upper and lower pattern drum sections, one independently of .the other or simultaneously as desired, whereby said shaft may be adjusted about the axis of the reduced eccentrically located and portions of .said shaft for attaining a desired displacement between the needle cylinder and the peripheries of the upper and lower pattern 7 drum section.

4. In an independent needle circular knitting machine having selectors for operating upon the needles and also having selector levers for operating upon the selectors, said knitting machine also having an upper and an intermediate bed plate spaced substantially apart from each other, improved pattern controlled means for moving the selector levers into and out of operative position in predetermined order, comprising a vertically disposed shaft having eccentrically located reduced end portions removably secured in the upper and lower bed plate, an inner tubular member rotatably mounted on said shaft between the upper and lower bed plates, a hub member fixed on the lower end of the inner tubular member and having an inner tubular shell fixed thereon, an outer tubular shell forming a lower pattern drum section adjustably secured on the inner tubular shell and having a plurality of butts 15 thereon for engaging certain of the selector levers according-to a desired pattern, an upper tubular hub member rotatably mounted onthe inner tubular member and in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the lower tubular member,

an inner tubular shell fixed on the upper tubular;

shaft for attaining a desired displacement be-- tween the needle cylinder and the peripheries of the upper and lower pattern drum sections, said means for adjusting the outer shell relative to the inner shell of thetlower pattern drum section including a plurality of set of circularly spaced threaded semi-circular cavities in the proximate lower edges of the inner and outer shells, one set of adjacent semi-circular cavities in the inner and outer shells coinciding with each other as the remaining sets thereof are disposed in staggered relation to each other whereby the outer shell may be moved about the inner shell to where one of the other sets of semi-circular cavities will be disposed in alinement with each other tochange the position of the outer shellrelative to the inner shell.

5. In a circular knitting machine having I a needle cylinder with independent verticallymov able needles therein and selectors associated with the needles and provided with selector butts'at different levels and also having selector levers movable into operative position to act upon selector butts of said selectors for positioning selected needles for knitting the desired patterns, means for independently controlling separate sets of selector levers to maintain either set of levers inoperative While the other set of levers is moved into and out of operative position comprising a pattern drum including an upper and a lower section mounted on a common axis, independently operable driving mechanism for each of the sections of the pattern drum, means for stopping at least one of the sections of the pattern drum at-- predetermined intervals during the knitting of each article independently of the'other of the sections of the pattern drum so as to maintain the same needle selections responsive to-one of the pattern drums for a plurality of courses, and

brake means associated with the pattern drum and arranged to resist rotation of one of the sections during rotationofthe other of'the sections. a GEORGE .F. TEAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,852 Chandler Dec. 6, 191-0 2,316,823 Thurston Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 258,988 Great Britain Oct. '7, 1926 

